Pacific Rim Packs a Punch

Rating: 9/10 (20 July 2013)

***DEFINITE SPOILERS***
Although Pacific Rim has had mixed reactions from the critics and box office alike, it is clear to me on a lot of levels that very often, so- called critics only like art-house flicks and don't like to give positive reviews to mainstream movies, even of the caliber of Pacific Rim – it makes them look less intelligent, at least I'm sure that's what they think.
I had mixed feelings about going to see the movie, and I can be just as critical as the critics, but I found very little to criticise either with the movie, special effects or the acting. It had a great plot, and the premise of the shared minds to harness the power of the Jaeger weaponry was a good concept and drove the storyline in a different direction to what might have been another alien shoot-em up movie. A few twists and turns here and there added to the enjoyment of the movie, along with subtle and non-so-subtle humour from the slightly mad scientists and Ron Perlman, whose appearance was an added bonus.
Character-wise, I wasn't sure what to expect after seeing Charlie Hunnam in Sons of Anarchy, I couldn't quite visualise what he would be like as a hero. I was incredibly surprised and happy to find that I really enjoyed his performance as Raleigh Becket. The plot had several twists and turns in it and the special effects were amazingly seamless. Idris Elba portrayed his character very powerfully, his role softened slightly by his father-like relationship with rookie Jaeger pilot, Mako, played by Rinko Kikuchi, who is not generally known for mainstream movies.
I give it a 9/10 and recommend ignoring the critics if you enjoy a rip- roaring humans vs aliens movie with a good plot, solid acting and great SFX (not to mention non-stop action).